---
title: "J. Wade Birdwell | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/j-wade-birdwell-tx-2nd-court-appeals"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-27"
---

# J. Wade Birdwell

Texas 2nd Court of Appeals · Court of Appeals Justice

## Profile

- Court: Texas 2nd Court of Appeals
- State: Texas
- Role: Court of Appeals Justice
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### appellate electronic filing

Scope: statewide

In Texas appellate courts, attorneys must electronically file civil and criminal documents, subject to a good-cause motion; self-represented parties may e-file but are not required to do so.

Evidence excerpt: Attorneys in civil cases must electronically file documents. Attorneys in criminal cases must electronically file documents except for good cause shown in a motion filed in the appellate court.

[Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.txcourts.gov/2ndcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-j-wade-birdwell/)
- [Official roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/2ndcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-j-wade-birdwell/)
- [Texas Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/2ndcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-j-wade-birdwell/)
- [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Sitting justice of the Texas Second Court of Appeals, appointed in 2017 and elected to two full terms through 2030, with a career that includes serving as judge of the 342nd Judicial District Court in Tarrant County

### Education

- University of Houston Law Center; active in the Houston Law Review, moot court, and mock trial — J.D. (1989)
- 1983 – Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin.

### Additional information

- Later elected to two full terms, with his current term ending in 2030.
- 2017 – Appointed to the Second Court of Appeals; sworn in November 17, 2017.
- Place 4 on the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth, Texas, a position he was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott on November 10, 2017.
- 2010 – Appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the 342nd Judicial District Court in Tarrant County after a vacancy; elected in 2010 and reelected in 2014.
- Early career – Joined Cantey & Hanger in its medical malpractice section, later moved to Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller focusing on appellate law, then became of counsel at Wallach & Moore.
- He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Tarrant County Bar Association, Texas Bar Foundation, and Tarrant County Bar Foundation, and a former member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Association of Defense Counsel.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-e966a5411b2587c600cf3508) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.